St. Paul daily globe., 1887-11-06

The church is handsome frame, 75X
IS. being in the form of a Latin cross.
The architecture is of Gothic design.
The auditorium is finished in natural
wood and open timbered roof. The
building is heated with a furnace and
has three exits. The walls are prettily
decorated and freScoed in stencil work.
The same style of architecture is carried
out in the seating and pulpit. 1t is
thought that tower or a Spire will be
added at no distant day.
FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS.
The first cOlored church in America
was founded in Philadelphia in 17S6, by
Rt. Rev. Richard Allen. Rev. Absalom
Jones, William White and DOrus Gin
ningS, after great opposition from the
elder stationed in the city, and several
of his colleagues. The four above men-
toned, during this time, were attending
st. Georges church on Fourth street,
and were soon followed by many of their
brethren. When they began to get
numerous they were moved from their
usual seats and distributed around
the walls. and on the Sabbath following
were t0ld to go into the gallery. The
meeting had begun. and just as they
reached their seats the congregation
fell on their knees TO pray. Their col
wise. but were Immediately told by the
trustees that they must not kneel there:
if they didn't get up peaceably he would
call assistance and force them to do so.
They never attended the church again,
but hired store room in which to WOr-
ship. They were pursued with threats
of being diSOwned, but paid no attention
to them. Getting out subscription pa
pers they waited first on DR.. Rush and
Robert RalstOn. who gave literally, and
also instructed them how to proceed.
They were the first gentlemen to
espOuse the cause of the oppressed and
aided in building the house for the poor
Africans to worship in. Here was the
beginning and rise of the first African
church in America. The elders of the
Methodist church still pursued them.
They were told to
ERASE THEIR NAMES
from the subscription paper or they
would he publicly turned out of meet
ing. 1t was the charge of the con-
ference, but they refused because they
commended that they had violated no
law of discipline of the Methodist
church. Again they were called upon
by this ambassador, and every conceiv-
able argument used to convince them
that they were wrong in building
cuuTcn. arguments were useless, ana
the subscription paper met with great
success. They at once decided upon a
lot and purchased it, on Fifth street.
The day was appointed to dig the cellar,
and Rev. Allen put the first spade into
the ground. The Methodist elder being
so violently opposed to the church, it
was decided to unite, in denomination,
with the church of England. Rev. AL
len, being a thorough Methodist, re-
fused to become minister and, refitting
an old building, founded a Methodist
church, but owing to trouble with the
elder they were obliged to pay 800 for
five sermons a year. Declining to pay
this money any longer, they were dis
owned by the MethodiSts in a circular
letter sent out by John Emory, the elder.
They tried in every way to take charge
fOreibly of Aliens pulpit, but it was no
use, and the next elder applied for a
writ of mandamus to see why the pulpit
was denied him. The suit ended in Al
lens favor. A short time after this all
these churches became one under the
name of the African Methodist EpiscO-
pal church, and Rev. Allen and his
friends were delivered from a long and
distressing battle.